The Life Saving Powers of Blood Donations

The Importance of Blood

Blood is the sustenance of life, without adequate amounts of it flowing through our bodies, we would die.

Our bodies depend on a stable supply of oxygen and nutrients to sustain the billions of cells that make it up, no organ can survive without oxygen and nutrients which are transported throughout the body by our blood. But, blood also cleanses our bodies, it carries carbon dioxide and other waste materials to the lungs, kidneys, and intestines so they can be discharged from the body.

Blood helps regulate our body temperature, it also aids in fighting infections, it nurtures every cell and transports all waste materials, keeping us healthy.

How Many Donations Are Needed?

Every two seconds someone needs a blood transfusion and about 43,000 pints of donated blood are used every day in hospitals and emergency rooms across the country. Yet out of the 37% of eligible blood donors in the United States, only 10% donate yearly.

Donors are usually asked to give 1 pint of blood, and this single pint could save up to three lives. Today is a perfect day to become someone’s hero, by donating blood you could save someone’s father or mother, you could save a teacher or a police officer, your blood can save a child’s life.

Who Needs Your Blood?

When you donate blood, this is who you are helping:

30% of blood recipients are cancer patients

15% of blood recipients are suffering from heart disease

15% of blood recipients are patients with bowel and stomach illnesses

12% of blood recipients are burn victims

12% of blood recipients have been involved in an accident

6% of blood recipients are liver and kidney patients

5% of blood recipients are pregnant women and babies

5% of blood recipients are hemophiliacs

100% of blood recipients are someone’s loved one.

Who can Donate Blood?

Any healthy individual over the age of 16 who weighs at least 110 lbs. can donate blood. Donors are usually asked to give 1 pint and they can donate that amount every 2 months.

What Are the Benefits of Donating Blood?

Aside from becoming a superhero who saves lives, donating blood has some surprising benefits for donors:

It May Improve Blood Flow

Sometimes our blood becomes “thick” due to high viscosity hampering its flow through our veins and arteries, this can damage the lining of the blood vessels and eventually lead to serious cardiovascular problems.

A study conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology found that blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, and cancers.

Your Iron Levels Will Stay Balanced

Healthy adults have approximately 5 grams of iron in their bodies. Iron is an essential mineral that aids in the production of red cells which are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body.

When you donate blood, you lose roughly half a gram of iron which will get replenished from the food you consume in the days after donating. Regulating iron levels is a good thing because too much iron can damage the blood vessels while a deficiency in iron can cause anemia.

You Get a Free Mini-Checkup

Prior to donating blood, you will receive a physical exam that measures your pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels. Once you have donated a sample of your blood will be sent to the lab where it will undergo 13 different tests for infectious diseases, like HIV and West Nile Virus. If any of these tests come back positive you will be notified immediately.

This mini-checkup is free for donors and while it is not a substitute for your annual medical checkup it can help monitor your overall health.

You May Live Longer

A study published in Health Psychology found that people who volunteered for altruist purposes tend love live up to 4 years longer than those who do not volunteer to help others.

Blood Drive in Lumberton

The First Blood Drive of the Year

Visit us this Saturday, February 24th, from 9 am to 12 pm 137, at the Altus Emergency Center Lumberton Parking Lot. We’re located on North LHS Drive Lumberton, TX 77657. Sponsored by LifeShare Blood Center and hosted by Altus Emergency Centers.

This is your chance to become a superhero, gather your friends and family and stop by to donate life!

Altus Emergency Centers Texas is Here for You 24/7

Altus Emergency Centers are all open 24/7/365, with no lines. Our facilities are well-equipped to diagnose and treat everything from major to minor adult and pediatric emergencies. We are honored to be a part of our beautiful Texas communities and work hard each day to help see them grow and prosper!

24 Hour ER Services – Best in Texas

Looking for the best quality 24 hour ER services?

We offer the best freestanding 24 hour ER services in Texas. We have top of the line medical technology and highly experienced ER healthcare experts prepped and ready to come to your aid in Baytown, Lake Jackson, Lufkin, Lumberton, and Waxahachie.

Each ER team is highly efficient in treating chest and abdominal pains, pediatric emergencies, flu symptoms, sports injuries, bone breaks and fractures, as well as all other major and minor injuries. All services are available 24/7, including weekends and holidays with little to no wait times.

Facebook

👏 Thank you, Lynn Miller for the extraordinary greeting you do for our patients. 🎂 At #AltusERWaxahachie we are wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She is not only one of our fabulous front desk clerks, she is also our friend.

🙏 Thank you for being on the front lines. God bless you and your family.

👩🏾‍⚕️ At Altus Emergency Center Waxahachie, we are SAFE & Open 24/7, No Lines. Now accepting Medicare. ... See MoreSee Less